Devon in the 1450s – allegiances are divided between Lord William Bonville and the Earl of Devon, Thomas Courtenay senior, with his sons Thomas and Henry. Between them stands the figure of Nicholas Radford, the most famous lawyer in the South West, seemingly championing the rule of law against the threat of violence that will eventually burst out into the War of the Roses. In the background, high up on Dartmoor, lurk the forces of darkness and the unwritten laws of natural justice, countering betrayal with revenge.
‘The Murder of Nicholas Radford’ explored the consequences of the breakdown of the rule of law in charting the events surrounding the death of medieval Devon’s most famous lawyer. The play was written by artistic director and playwright Mark Beeson in blank verse in an attempt to get inside the medieval mind, and makes verbatim use of vivid contemporary accounts to extract a human relevance for today. The March tour continued MED Theatre’s tradition of producing challenging community productions for village halls. MED Theatre has been engaging people in original drama inspired by local history, ecology, and current issues relevant to Dartmoor and Devon for over three decades.